Cinnamon is the oldest spice known and used on planet earth. Once upon a time, it was more valuable than gold. It has a long history as a spice as well as a medicine. It is an exotic, fragrant and sweet flavored spice stick obtained from the outer bark of the tree Cinnamomum which when dried, rolls into a tubular form known as quills. Cinnamon is available either in these quill form or ground form. It can help to up your energy, vitality and circulation. No wonder it is knows as a super food! It helps to in various health conditions:
Blood sugar control: sprinkling some cinnamon on a high carb meal can lower the impact on the blood sugar levels as a study shows that cinnamon slows the rate at which the stomach empties after meals, reducing the rise in blood sugar after eating. The compounds in cinnamon not only stimulate the insulin receptors but also inhibit the enzyme which inactivates them thus improving the response of people with type 2 diabetes to insulin and normalizing blood sugar levels.
Weight loss: Cinnamon has a blood thinning property which helps to improve blood circulation and thereby metabolism helping in weight loss.
Bad fat control: Studies have shown that cinnamon can lower triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol indirectly; by the way the body processes fat hence giving your heart a great deal of protection it needs.
Common cold and sore throat: the minute you start feeling an itch in the throat or a series of sneeze, have few cups of cinnamon tea as it has antimicrobial and warming properties which prevents the condition from getting worse. It can help with all sort of lung congestion issues as it removes mucous and encourages circulation.
Alzheimer’s disease: The latest findings indicate that two compounds found in cinnamon —cinnamaldehyde and epicatechin — may be effective in fighting Alzheimer’s. Cinnamon has been shown to prevent the development of the filamentous “tangles” found in the brain cells that characterize Alzheimer’s.
Antioxidant: Cinnamon is considered as one of the top seven antioxidants in the world which can fight free radicals and prevent organ damage and other diseases protecting your body from skin to organs.
Infections: Cinnamon is known to have high anti bacterial and anti microbial properties which prevent us from infections and boost the body’s immune response.
Depression and IBS: Since cinnamon has anti bacterial properties, it can kill the bad bacteria in the gut which can cause a low mood feeling or irritable bowel syndrome.
Brain function: Cinnamon has shown to improve brain function by improving cognitive processing, alertness and concentration. It may also heal the brain cells and prevent them from swelling up like in stroke or brain injury.
Anti inflammation: Cinnamon has shown to reduce body inflammations and help in repairing tissue damage. It can help treat certain type of pain, headaches as well as arthritic pain by boost circulation at the joints.
PCOS: cinnamon can improve insulin resistance in PCOS women which can improve their menstrual health. Cinnamon can also help mitigate heavy menstrual bleeding associated with common conditions of female health, such as endometriosis, menorrhagia, and uterine fibroid.
Indigestion: Apart from adding flavor to the food, it also aids in digestion. Cinnamon is very effective for indigestion, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea and flatulence. Due to its carminative properties, it is very helpful in eliminating excess gas from the stomach and intestines. It also removes acidity, reduces the effects of morning sickness. Cinnamon is therefore often referred to as a digestive tonic.
Apart from its internal use, cinnamon can be used in a number of ways externally.
It can be used with oatmeal pack to prevent acne.
Cinnamon oil can be used to improve the health of teeth and gums and prevent tooth decay.
Cinnamon oil combined with a carrier oil can be used as an excellent massage oil which can help to relieve and relax muscles and reduce aches and pains.
Cinnamon oil or cinnamon infused in water can be used to heal toe and finger nail fungus due to its anti-fungal properties.
The pleasant aroma of cinnamon oil makes it a very effective as a room freshener. It is often added to potpourris.
Cinnamon oil and bark are great mosquito repellents as it contains cinnamaldehyde, which is an active mosquito killing agent.
Cinnamon acts a food preservative. If you add cinnamon to any recipe, it actually helps to prevent the spoiling of the food by delaying bacterial growth.
Best ways to use it:
Cinnamon is highly versatile spice which can be used in sweet and savory dishes. Try opting for Ceylon cinnamon for best results
Sprinkle some cinnamon to your water/ green tea.
Add a dash of it to your oatmeal, whole grain cereal or vegetable soups or on your popcorn.
Freeze cinnamon with ice cubes to add some zest to your plain water or beverages.
Season roasted or grilled veggies like cauliflower, sweet potato, carrots etc with cinnamon powder.
It can also be used in combination with ginger and cardamom if you have a sluggish digestive system.
Safe dosage: consuming anything between 2-5 gms/day is safe. Anything in excess can be toxic.
Storage: Whole sticks should be stored in cool, dry, dark place, in airtight glass containers for many months. Ground/powder cinnamon spice should be stored inside the refrigerator inside sealed containers and should be used as early as possible since it loses its flavor quickly.
So it’s not a sin- sin but a win-win situation when it comes to cinnamon.
